Louisiana gamblers roll the dice on addiction

3:17 PM,
Mar. 9, 2013

Addiction starts when the primitive parts of the brain that control rewards go haywire as genes mix to make us unique. Instead of sending out that "satisfied" feeling, the reward centers tell us we still need or want something.

Written by

MELODY BRUMBLE
The Times

Maxwell, 36, juggled her mom duties for three children and a job as a dental assistant Sunday through Thursday - but on Fridays she gave in to the casino's siren song. Her gambling addiction escalated until she landed in jail, charged with stealing money from her employer.

"I would spend $300 to $400 a day," she said. "Then one time I gambled away my whole paycheck, $1,400. I took money out of our account. My husband would want to know where the money went. It just spiraled out of control." ...